NEON LEON - 1979-84 Singles Archival LP

Featuring Mick Jagger on “Heart of Stone”.

Highly recommended.

When NYC hit its punk stride in the mid 70s, the one-of-a-kind ‘Neon’ Leon Matthews was already in the thick of it. Getting his start in music in the late 60s and having incredible luck in his friendships along the way, Neon Leon’s life story could easily be made into an amazing film. Along with being roommates with Rolling Stones’ guitarist Mick Taylor (and dating his wife!) while living in the UK in the early 70s, he was recording acetates as far back as the mid 1970s with the original members of Pure Hell and ended up moving into the Chelsea Hotel in ’73 soon after, upon the insistence of his pal Johnny Thunders.

Gigging at Max’s, seeing the NY punk scene blossom before his eyes, and he even got to appear briefly in the exploitation film, Punk Rock (‘77). Leon put together a band with girlfriend Honi and caught lightning in a bottle with the recording of the Rock’n Roll Is Alive 7” EP in ’79, laying down the filthy scuzz guitar tone dreams are made of, in one of the ‘most potent anthems of NYC punk’ ever caught on tape.

Glimmer Twins, Keef and Mick, locals at the time and looking to sign bands for their label, took note. But even after being courted by Mick & Keith for a possible signing to the fledgling Rolling Stones Records, Leon said Mick talked him out of the deal. But sure enough, they both got together for an impossibly great recording of “Heart of Stone” included here that surely equals the classic rendition by The Pagans (that’s become the gold standard).

Collecting all Neon Leon 7” from 79-84 and makes these overseas-only recordings available for the first time, cementing the Neon Leon legend.

The Neon Leon debut album was released in 1983 (funded by Jagger) as a Swedish-only LP but featured Blondie’s Clem Burke as well as notorious KBD star Snuky Tate, and showcases a sold late 70’s Stones vibe perfectly ripe for radio consumption, in a better world, that is.